Develop a rubric for analyzing and grading written compositions. Your rubric will serve as a guideline as you assess writing issues such as tone, logic, flow, balance, grammar and content. Assign percentages according the importance you place on each element such as 20 percent for balance and 40 percent for content.
Check overall structure of the paper. Has the student followed the set guidelines given for the work? Has she included the essentials such as introduction, body and conclusion, if the paper is an essay? Look for the student's formatting and adherence to the instructor's regulations.
Find the key components in the work and assess the quality of each. For example, check the opening lines of the paper for a "hook" that draws the reader into the article or story. Consider the thesis, or argument, given in a persuasive essay for clarity and decisiveness.
Look for active language. Students should strive to avoid writing in passive voice most of the time. An example of passive language is "The boat was rowed by Alex" instead of "Alex rowed the boat." Too much passive voice generally yields boring and mundane writing.
Assess how well the student chose details for her writing. Are there significant details that add meaning as well as color and flavor to the piece, or are the details arbitrary and unimportant to the work? For example, if a student reveals early that her main character fears creepy crawly creatures and later encounters a spider spinning a huge web outside of a window, that is a significant detail.
Watch for the student's use of literary techniques. Such devices include imagery, symbols, alliteration, hyperbole and irony. When literary techniques are present, assess whether they fit in with the tone of the piece and if they are well placed. Also consider what impact the techniques have on the overall composition.
Proofread for spelling and grammar. This is generally a given but extremely important, as spelling and grammar mistakes can greatly affect the flow and logic of the writing itself. Read the student's piece aloud to catch mistakes if your eye has a tendency to "auto-correct."
Give constructive and specific feedback. Students only grow in their writing skills when they are given guidance as to how to improve it and the opportunity to revise. Make your comments direct and to the point but don't "correct" the weaknesses for them. Remember to the praise the strengths in the writing as well.